Rock Climbing Adventures

Lovers Leap Multi-Pitch Adventure

Lovers Leap is one of the best multi-pitch rock climbing sites in California. Most of the “classic” routes are 5.7 – 5.10 and are characterized by steep crack and face climbs with horizontal dikes. This unique blend of features allows for steep, wild and memorable climbing. Coupled with easy access, walk-off descents and good camping & lodging nearby, its no wonder Lovers Leap is on every climber’s wish list.

Calaveras Dome Multi-Pitch Adventure

Sitting in the Central Sierra between Kirkwood and Bear Valley sits a massive granite rock dome rivaling in size most of the domes in Yosemite. Calaveras Dome and it’s neighboring Hammer Dome host over 50 routes to choose. Most of which are long engaging multi-pitch rock climbs as long as 1,200 ft. in length. These are big walls and offer some of the best climbing in California outside of Yosemite.

Photo: Climber on Calaveras Dome, Wall of the Worlds

Here is a taste of Calaveras Dome Area Classics:

Old Smokey5.9III – 7 to 9 pitches of climbing depending on how it is climbed. Don’t let the 5.9 rating fool you this is an old-school route and rewarding for the climb

Sands of Time5.9 IV – This 11-pitch route on Calaveras Dome offers the best moderate route on the dome.

Wall of Worlds5.10c IV – Not you mothers 5.10c. This is a physical and challenging climb.

Some of best routes on Hammer Dome:

Gemini Cracks5.8 – This multi-pitch route on Hammer Dome hosts is one of the best 5.8 finger cracks in California. The name is given by the two beautiful parallel cracks on the fourth pitch. The right crack is said to be 5.10.

Wings and Stings5.7 – Come prepared with strong forearms for three pitches of stellar lieback climbing. This climb is one of the most popular climbs in the area though we are often the only party climbing the route mid-week

Sea of Holes5.10a – This fifth pitch 5.10 climb might be the marquee route on the Hammer Dome.

Matterhorn Peak Technical Route / North Arete or Horse Creek Tower

This adventure is for aspiring alpine rock climbers wishing to gain experience in the High Sierra. This trip targets the North Arete (5.7 III) of Matterhorn Peak and the NW Face of Horse Creek Tower (5.6 II) over three days.

Incredible Hulk Adventure

The Incredible Hulk in the Sawtooth Range west of Bridgeport on Highway 395 is regularly credited with offering the best alpine rock climbing experiences in the High Sierra. This program aims for the famous “Red Dihedral” (5.10b IV) route which is known for perfect, clean and physical climbing in a dramatic and exposed location. Most of the route follows 5.8/5.9 crack systems, so it is important that all participants have good crack climbing skills.

Introduction to Rock Climbing

Introduction to Rock Climbing course is where it all begins. This one-day clinic is designed to cover all the basics techniques to get people into the outdoors. This course is right for people who may have climbed in the gym before or who have never climbed at all. It is a tried and true curriculum, in 35 years of experience, design to get beginners climbing in the outdoors in a safe and fun manner.

The clinic starts with a quick introduction to the equipment and how it works to keep us safe. Then after some demonstrations and clinics, the class gets to work on the rock. We try to maximize the amount of time for each person to belay and climb so that they get the most out of the day. Climbing time is broken up into lunch and break sessions where new lessons are taught, and climbers can apply the real world techniques.

Learning to Lead Climb Clinic

Primary Lead Climbing Instruction

Learning to lead climb is a huge milestone for most climbers and is a skill that should be learned properly in a qualified lead climbing course. The ability to lead climb on sport and trad routes opens up the world of rock climbing and allows climbers to attempt new and challenging objectives. It allows climbers to take on the mountains on their terms

Learning to lead climb is also when the risks of rock climbing start to increase. That’s why it’s important to learn how to lead climb in a safe and controlled manner. It is important to take the time and learn from professionals who know how to teach the concepts and skills of lead climbing in a safe and digestible way. Unfortunately, most laypersons and climbing gyms are not equipped or experienced to instruct lead climbing in the rock environment correctly.

Mountain Adventure Seminars and SWS Mountain Guides have over 36 years of experience teaching rock climbing. Our Learning to Lead Climb course is based on professional training and decades of experience teaching climbers to take on bigger challenges. All of our instructors are highly experienced in big mountains, and most have trained with the American Mountain Guide Association. This low student to instructor class (3 to 1) is taught in a “hands-on” environment and designed to get you leading confidently on both sport and traditional climbs.

Family Rock Climbing Experience

Treat your family to a day of outdoor rock climbing in Bear Valley. This program is a great way to have a healthy and exciting day with the entire family. MAS instructors will supervise, coach and encourage throughout the day. No experience required and all equipment provided.

Boy Scout Climbing Merit Badge

MAS/SWS Professional Mountain Guides can lead you and your scout through the BSA Rock Climbing Merit Badge requirements in a safe and supportive outdoor environment. It’s a lot of fun, no experience is required, and all equipment is provided. Parents are encouraged to participate too. Also available for private “troop” bookings.

Rock Rescue Clinics

Technical Self-Rescue For Rock Climbers

Our Self-Rescue for Rock Climbers is a critically important course for anyone who climbs outdoors. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a beginning rock climber or a seasoned veteran accidents can happen to anyone in the mountains. What’s worse is Search, and Rescue could be hours or even days away. That’s why it’s important to build the skills necessary to take care of yourself and your climbing partner in the event of an emergency.

Our founding philosophy for our Self-Rescue for Climbers course is that to be prepared you to have to learn from someone with real-life experience. There is only so much you can learn from a book or Youtube. The guides for these clinics are all seasoned mountain guides all of whom have worked in big mountain terrain. They are all highly trained and experienced in rescuing other climbers.

The goal for our Self-Rescue for Climbers course is to teach climbers the necessary skills to get themselves or their partners off a climb in the event of an accident or incident. They must be able to do so with only the gear they typically carry with them.

Dates: 2018 Dates - TBA - June - September: Or just give us a call 888.797.6867

Multi-Pitch Clinic

1 Day/ 8 hours / Cost: $195.00

Interested in climbing longer routes on a Lover’s Leap or Calaveras Dome Adventure? Need a brush up on multi-pitch techniques or want to learn the trick of Multi-Pitch climbing? If so, it is a wise idea to get training or a review before heading up on a Rock Adventure! This is a low client to guide ratio with “hands-on” clinic to teach you multi-pitch techniques and “tricks of the trade” to increase your efficiency, safety, and enjoyment of multi-pitch climbing.

Dates: 2018 Dates - TBA - June - September: Or just give us a call 888.797.6867

Introduction to Aid Climbing Clinic

1 Day/ 8 hours / Cost: $175.00

The state of California has a long and storied history with aid climbing. Many of the aiding techniques used around the World today have been developed from climbers in Yosemite Valley and the Sierra Nevada. Even today climbing routes from Meru to the Eastern Sierra starts with a basic introduction to aid climbing and big wall climbing.

Our Introduction to Aid Climbing Course is designed to take experienced traditional lead climbers into more extensive and complex terrain. These techniques found in a variety of climbing terrains and situations including alpine, big walls, first ascents, and even hard traditional routes. The goal of the course is to teach proper aid climbing and big wall climbing techniques in a safe and controlled manner. Allows students to progress into a wider variety of terrain.